Carton and blank for producing the same



SePt- 14, 1965 I G. E. STRUBLE 3,206,096

CARTON AND BLANK FOR PRODUCING THE SAME Filed July 30, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l INV EN TOR Glenn E'. Srub/e BY @un ws Sept. 14, 1965 G. E. STRUBLE 3,206,096

CARTON AND BLANK FOR PRODUCING THE SAME Filed July so, 1964 2 sheets-sheet 2 I, zNvENToR G/enn E. .Sfrub/e United States Patent O 3,206,096 CARTON AND BLANK FOR PRODUCING THE SAME Glenn E. Struble, Hamilton, Ohio, assigner to Diamond International Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 30, 1964, Ser. No. 386,245 Claims. (Cl. 229-16) This invention relates to a reclosable carton produced from a single blank element, and more speciiically to a carton and blank particularly adapted for packing ice cream or the like and having a reclosable cover or lid.

The carton and blank of the present invention are generally related to the type of carton disclosed in U.S. Letters Patent to Inman et al. No. 2,099,166 or Frieders No. 246,484, each showing mechanical means for locking the ends of the cartons.

Primary objects of the present invention are to provide a well-shaped carton which retains its shape after having been packed; to provide a carton which is tightly scalable and reclosable; to provide a carton which utilizes relatively little gluing or adhesive to facilitate the production and erection on conventional equipment; to provide a carton which is substantially squared and oriented when erected and filled, and includes means facilitating ready reclosure of the same.

Other and more specific objects and the nature and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which:

FG. 1 is a plan view of the novel blank of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the blank of FIG. 1 folded into an assembled condition, portions being broken away for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the partially erected carton showing one end closed, portions being broken away for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the closed carton;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the open carton;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section taken substantially on the plane of line 6 6 of FIG. 4 through the mechanical lock and showing by phantom lines how the lock is closed; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the reclosed carton, i.e., reclosure from the condition shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and tirst considering FIG. l, a blank produced from paperboard or the like is indicated generally at 10 and comprises a material conventionally used for packaging ice cream. The blank 10 comprises, reading from left to right a rectangular front wall panel 12 having a height equal to the carton height, a free top margin 14 and opposed side margins 16 and 1S. The margins 16 and 18 have hingetlly connected thereto on fold lines 2t) and 22, respectively, seaiing flaps 24 and 26, respectively. Hingedly connected to a bottom fold line 28 is a rectangular bottom panel 38 having foldably connected to the opposite bottom margin at 32 a rectangular rear wall panel 34. The bottom panel 30 includes at opposite side margins 36 and 38 inner closure flaps 40 and 42, respectively, which have a height H substantially equal to the overall height of the erected carton, and which have an upper transverse free marginal edge 44 and 46, respectively, which function to square or orient the cooperating parts of the carton when it is erected.

The rear wall panel has extending the length thereof a fold line 48 providing means by which the lid is hinged to the receptacle portion of the carton, as will be apparent when considering the erected carton. The fold line 48 has extending below and above the opposite terminal ends Sil and 52 thereof side marginal fold lines 54, 56 and 58, 60 having hingedly connected thereto respective lower and upper lock tabs or panel segments 62, 64 and 66, 68. Adjacent margins of the lock tabs 62, 64 and 66, 68 are defined by angular die cuts 70 and '72, respectively, extending from terminal ends 50 and 52 of the fold line 48 and continuing intermediately of the flaps 62, 64 and 66, 68 in colinear die cuts 74, 76 parallel to the upper and lower margins of the respective lock tabs.

The lock tabs 62, 64 and 66, 68 have respectively formed therein by means of suitable die cuts female, lockslots indicated generally at 78. The female lock-slots on the respective lock tabs are identical and only one will be described in detail.

The female lock-slot structure 78 comprises a pair of opposed, vertically extending U-shaped cuts 88 and 82 extending transversely through the respective lock tabs and disposed inwardly of the terminal ends of the U-shaped cuts are a pair of parallel cuts 84 and 86 which also eX- tend transversely through the respective lock tabs.

The margins 74 and 76 and the lock tabs 62, 68 are offset with respect to the fold line 48 substantially the same width as a tear strip which will subsequently be described in detail. The fold line 48 forms in the rear wall panel 34 a bottom or receptacle panel segment 88 and a lid panel segment 9i). Hingedly connected to the upper edge 92 of the rear wall panel 34 is a rectangular lid panel 94 having the same dimensions as bottom wall panel 30. Hingedly connected to side marginal folds 96 and 98 of lid panel 94 are rectangular, inner sealing flaps 100 and 182, respectively. Hingedly connected to the forward margin 194 of the top panel 94 is a rectangular front closure panel 1% which includes side marginalfold lines 108, 110 and 112, 114 separated by an intermediate portion of a tear strip 116 which extends the length of the panel 106. The tear strip 186 defines an upper rectangular lid segment 118 and a lower front wall segment 128. Terminal ends of the tear strip 116 are dened by segmental fold lines 122, 124 disposed between fold lines 198, 11d and 112, 114, respectively.

Hingedly connected to 4opposite sides of the closure panel 196 on the fold lines 108, 122, 110 and 112, 124 and 114 are side closure flaps 126 and 128, respectively. The flaps 126 and 128 respectively include therethrough and extending to the terminal ends thereof, tear strip portions 130 and 132 forming therein male lock panel segments 134, 136 and 13S, 140, respectively, each including at the terminal end thereof a male lock tab indicated generally at 142.

The male lock tabs 142 are each identical and only one will be described in detail. The lock tabs 142 are hingedly connected by means of vertically extending, fragmentary fold lines 144 and 146 of the terminal ends of the respective lock tabs 134-1411, and the hinge lines 144, 146 are spaced from each other by a U-shaped die cut 148 forming a rst or lock element 150. A vertically extending fold line 152 hingedly connects the first lock element 150 to a second similarly conformed lock element 154.

Assembly of the blank Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the inner front wall panel 12 is folded on fold line 28 into overlying relationship with respect to the bottom panel 38. The panels 106 and 94 will be maintained in coplanar relationship and folded simultaneously at fold line 92 into overlying relationship with respect to the panels 34 and 36 as well as the panel 12 which had previously been folded onto panel 30. rl`he panels 1196 and 12 will be adhesively secured in the areas 156 and 158; it being noted that area 158 is the side opposite that shown in FIG. 1.

When the parts are oriented in this manner, a tube having a rectangular cross section will be formed.

Erection of the carton The carton is erected by initially disposing panels or walls 30, 94 and 12, 106 and 34 in spaced parallel relationship as seen in FIG. 3. The tube formed as seen in FIG. 3 will be erected on suitable apparatus, not shown, and the carton will generally be end-loaded. Still referring to FIG. 3, the closure ilap 42 will be initially folded at fold line 38 normal to the bottom wall panel 30. The die cut side margins 42', 42 of the panel 42 together with the top margin 44 will serve to square-up the carton.

It will be noted that the width W of the flaps 40 and 42 are substantially the width of the erected carton and the height H of the flaps 4t? and 42 is equal to the height of the erected carton. Further, the free margin 14 of panel 12 will be disposed beneath fold line 194 to aid in forming a tight carton.

Next, the flap 102 is folded at fold line 98 over the edge 46 of the flap 42. This fold will not only square the carton up but will form a seal to deter the flow of the relatively viscous ice cream.

Next, the sealing flap 26 is folded along the edge 42 of the flap 42 and deters the flow of ice cream past the free edge of the downwardly folded flap 162.

Next, the female lock tabs 66 and 63 are folded at the rear edge 42 of the flap 42 and finally the male lock panel segments 138 and 140 are folded about the edge 42" toward the female lock slot structure 78. lt will be noted that the side edges 42', 44 respectively engage the fold lines 58, 6G, and 22, 112, 124 and 114 to square-up the carton and form a tight seal at the marginal edges of the inner ap 42.

Likewise, when the end of the carton is closed about the inner closure flap 49, the edges 44, 40 and 40 will not only square up that end of the carton but will provide seals for flaps adjacent thereto and folded in overlying relation with respect to the inner flap 40.

As most clearly seen, for example, in the upper portion of the end Wall of FIG. 4 and in FIG. 6, and particularly referring to the female lock slot 78 and male lock tabs 142, the tab G is bent about fold line 152 and inserted into slot 82, then tab 154 is bent about the fold line 152 and inserted into the slot Si).

Although a specic mechanical means has been disclosed for the purpose of locking the ends of the carton, other comparable mechanical lock means may be utilized. However, the expedient of mechanical lock means spaced on opposite sides of the tear strip portions 130 and 132 1., provides a stable base from which the tear strip may be torn, as will be described in detail with respect to the manner in which the sealed carton is opened.

The specific mechanical lock is of the general character disclosed in detail in U.S. Patent to Pergande No. 2,060,- 240, and reference may be had to this expired patent for purposes of obtaining a more specific description of the general manner in which the typical mechanical lock of the character involved operates.

After the assembly 7S and 142 has been interengaged at one end, the carton is end-loaded on conventional filling apparatus and the other end flaps are closed to form end closure assamblies at the carton ends. The carton will now assume the condtion shown in FIG. 4 and it will be noted that the tear strip portion 130 includes a fingerengagable tab 130 which may be readily grasped.

In order to open the carton, i.e., remove the tear strip which extends about three sides of the lid of the carton, the nger-engagable tab 130 is grasped and pulled outdardly and upwardly to separate the lid panel or wall 94 and portions 100, 64, 134 and 1152, 68, 138 and portion 11S at the respective sides and forward edge thereof to form a peripherally anged lid; see, for example, FIG. 5.

The rear wall 34, bottom panel 30, forward wall panel 12 and portion 118, together with the inner aps 40, 42

4 and seal tabs 24, 26 and portions 62, 136 and 66, 140 form an ice cream-receiving receptacle, as clearly seen in FIG. 5.

lt will be noted that the lid will be readily hinged completely out of the way on hinge line 48 to provide complete and adequate access to the entire contents of the novel carton. When removing a portion of the contents, i.e., ice cream from the carton, the carton is open at its largest dimension, i.e., the top, and thus minimizing contact with the carton contents.

After a portion of the carton contents has been removed, the carton may be readily reclosed and for this purpose, the corners 94', 94 of the lid will be received within the corner folds formed at the ends of panel 12 and sealing tabs 24 and 26, for example.

lt will be noted that when the carton is reclosed, the inner marginal edges 70, 74 and 72, 76 of the respective female lock tabs 62, 64 and 66, 68 will abuttingly engage to orient the carton in a reclosed condition. Further, in addition to guiding the lid into a reclosed position, i.e., with respect to the angular corner folds, i.e., behind the angular folds of sealing tabs 24, 26 with respect to the ends of the panel 12; the corners 94', 94 will be frictionally engaged behind these angular folds to retain the reclosed carton in a closed condition.

Thus, there has been disclosed a novel carton and blank which is readily manufactured, assembled, erected, opened and reclosed, and which fully conforms with the objects of the invention heretofore set forth.

lt will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A reclosable carton comprising rectangularly disposed front, bottom, rear and lid panels,

said lid panel including a closure panel depending from a forward edge thereof and extending along the length of said front panel and secured thereat;

said panels including closure flaps forming end assemblies at opposite ends of said carton; said closure aps and closure panel depending from the forward edge of said lid including a continuous tear strip intermediately thereof and free from underlying portions of said carton and spaced below the side and front margins of said lid panel, said closure panel including segmental closure panel segments extending longitudinally from opposite ends thereof and disposed on opposite sides of said continuous tear strip, said segmental closure panel segments including terminal lock portions spaced on opposite sides of said segmental tear strip, said rear panel including a longitudinally extending, intermediate hinge line, said rear panel including at vopposite ends thereof longitudinally extending lock panel segments spaced from each other by an intermediate free margin, said last-men tioned lock panel segments including cooperating lock portions detachably engageable with said lock portions at the terminal ends of the lock panel segments at opposite ends of said closure panel segments.

2. The structure as claimed in claim 1, in which said carton comprises a lower receptacle portion including said bottom panel, front wall panel, sealing flaps at the opposite ends of said front wall panel, a lower panel segment formed by said intermediate fold line in said rear wall panel, and a lower pair of detachably engaged lock panel segments extending from said front and rear wall panels to the ends of said carton, said carton including a hinged lid comprising said lid panel, bordered by a peripheral depending flange connected to said intermediate fold line in said rear wall panel.

3. A blank for producing a reclosable hinged-lid carton comprising a one-piece, elongated planar element including in order:

rectangular front, bottom, rear, lid and front closure panels connected on mutually parallel fold lines,

said bottom and lid panels including opposite side margins having hingedly connected thereto inner closure aps,

said rear panel including at opposite sides pairs of segmental fold lines,

said rear panel including an intermediate hinge line eX- tending between opposite sides of said rear panel and terminating at adjacent ends of said segmental fold lines at the side margins thereof, said rear panel having hingedly connected thereto and extending laterally therefrom pairs of segmental lock panel segments independently, hingedly connected to said segmental fold lines,

said lock panel segments including mechanical lock portions adjacent terminal ends thereof,

said front closure panel including side marginal fold lines having hingedly connected thereto laterally eX- tending lock panels, said front closure panel and 20 lock panels having extending intermediately thereof and to the terminal ends of said lock panels a continuous tear strip,

said tear strip defining in said lock panels pairs of lock panel segments,

closure flaps hingedly connected to said bottom wall are rectangular and have an area substantially equal to that of the carton formed from said blank.

5. The structure as claimed in claim 3, in which said front Wall panel includes segmental side marginal fold lines having hingedly connected thereto sealing flaps for overlying the terminal edge of the inner closure aps hingedly connected to said lid panel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,060,240 11/36 Pergande 229-*39 3,018,942 1/62 Arneson 229-51 3,111,255 11/63 Skovvronski 229-51 3,131,851 5/64 Pace 229-51 3,165,254 1/65 Moore 229-51 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Examiner. 

1. A RECLOSABLE CARTON COMPRISING RECTANGULARLY DISPOSED FRONT, BOTTOM, REAR AND LID PANELS, SAID LID PANEL INCLUDING A CLOSURE PANEL DEPENDING FROM A FORWARD EDGE THEREOF AND EXTENDING ALONG THE LENGTH OF SAID FRONT PANEL AND SECURED THEREAT; SAID PANELS INCLUDING CLOSURE FLAPS FORMING END ASSEMBLIES AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID CARTON; SAID CLOSURE FLAPS AND CLOSURE PANEL DEPENDING FROM THE FORWARD EDGE OF SAID LID INCLUDING A CONTINUOUS TEAR STRIP INTERMEDIATELY THEREOF AND FREE FROM UNDERLYING PORTIONS OF SAID CARTON AND SPACED BELOW THE SIDE AND FRONT MARGINS OF SAID LID PANEL, SAID CLOSURE PANEL INCLUDING SEGMENTAL CLOSURE PANEL SEGMENTS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY FROM OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF AND DISPOSED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID CONTINUOUS TEAR STRIP, SADI SEGMENTAL CLOSURE PANEL SEGMENTS INCLUDING TERMINAL LOCK PORTIONS SPACED ON OP- 